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Glite Dictionary
Nymphaea alba

Nymphaea alba

9.1
A water lily with fragrant white flowers that grows in lakes and ponds in Europe and nearby Africa and Asia
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nymphaea alba
  • The pond was covered with the broad leaves and white blooms of Nymphaea alba.

Examples

  • Nymphaea alba is often found in European lakes and slow-moving rivers.

  • Nymphaea alba thrives in still waters where its fragrant white flowers attract pollinators.

  • Botanists study Nymphaea alba to understand wetland ecosystems better.

  • The Nymphaea alba blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • I saw a stunning Nymphaea alba at the botanical garden.

  • In many parks, you can find Nymphaea alba floating peacefully on the surface of ponds.

  • Nymphaea alba is celebrated for its delicate blooms that unfold each morning in the sunlight.

Synonyms

European white lily
vsNymphaea alba
  • UK
5.8

A water plant with large white flowers that float on ponds

is native to Europe and also parts of North Africa and Asia

Surface Forms

Nymphaea alba singular
Nymphaea albas plural

Morphology

Nymphaea + alba

The binomial is compositional: Nymphaea names the genus (water lilies) and 'alba' is the Latin adjective meaning 'white', so together they denote the white water-lily species. Although 'alba' is not listed in the provided word entry, its meaning as a straightforward adjectival modifier in taxonomic names makes the overall meaning derivable by a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Nymphaea alba comes from old Greek and Latin words: Nymphaea means 'water nymph' and alba means 'white'. People thought the pale, floating flowers looked like little nymphs on the water, so the name fits this white water lily.